Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DAMASCUS328
2008-05-12 11:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
SARG SAYS IT WILL ALLOW AMCITS TO ENTER FROM
how-toVZCZCXRO1710 OO RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHROV DE RUEHDM #0328 1331157 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 121157Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4956 INFO RUEHEE/ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000328
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR CA/OCS/ACS, NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2018
TAGS: LE PREF PREL SY CASC
SUBJECT: SARG SAYS IT WILL ALLOW AMCITS TO ENTER FROM
LEBANON
REF: (A) CORBIN-OPS CTR TELCON 5/10/08 (B) STATE 49822
Classified By: CDA Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.5 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000328
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR CA/OCS/ACS, NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2018
TAGS: LE PREF PREL SY CASC
SUBJECT: SARG SAYS IT WILL ALLOW AMCITS TO ENTER FROM
LEBANON
REF: (A) CORBIN-OPS CTR TELCON 5/10/08 (B) STATE 49822
Classified By: CDA Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.5 b/d
1. (SBU) Summary: Confirming a May 10 phone conversation
(reported REF A),MFA Chief of Protocol told CDA in person
May 11 that the SARG would, for humanitarian reasons, allow
entry of U.S. citizens (both non-official and official)
without the usual visa entry requirement (REF B). Dabbagh
stated that Saudi, Australian, Canadian and other diplomats
were seeking evacuation from Lebanon through Syria. End
summary.
2. (C) MFA Chief of Protocol Abdul Latif Dabbagh convoked
CDA May 11 to inform him of the SARG's official response to
the Ref B demarche CDA had made the previous day, to which
Dabbagh had responded he would personally order border posts
to facilitate the entry of Amcits. Dabbagh said when he had
raised the U.S. demarche with FM Muallem, Muallem had agreed
with the need to provide humanitarian assistance and allow
Americans to enter Syria from Lebanon. In fact, Dabbagh
reported, when Dabbagh had proposed transit visas for Amcits,
Muallem had insisted that Dabbagh allow Americans to stay if
need be. Dabbagh said he had been in touch with the Director
of Immigration to ensure the order was implemented and said
that border personnel would be provided instructions to issue
transit visas. Dabbagh did not ask for any guarantees or
information from the U.S. on those entering.
3. (C) Dabbagh said that he had spent the weekend working
with other Embassies seeking assistance for their diplomats
and citizens seeking to enter Syria from Lebanon. These
included Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Australia, Canada,
and the Philippines. Dabbagh said he had facilitated a
"plane-load of Saudi diplomats the previous night." Dabbagh
said he had not received any calls regarding Amcits to date.
4. (SBU) Embassy will continue to work to facilitate the
entry of any Amcits seeking to leave Lebanon by way of Syria.
CORBIN
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR CA/OCS/ACS, NEA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2018
TAGS: LE PREF PREL SY CASC
SUBJECT: SARG SAYS IT WILL ALLOW AMCITS TO ENTER FROM
LEBANON
REF: (A) CORBIN-OPS CTR TELCON 5/10/08 (B) STATE 49822
Classified By: CDA Michael H. Corbin for reasons 1.5 b/d
1. (SBU) Summary: Confirming a May 10 phone conversation
(reported REF A),MFA Chief of Protocol told CDA in person
May 11 that the SARG would, for humanitarian reasons, allow
entry of U.S. citizens (both non-official and official)
without the usual visa entry requirement (REF B). Dabbagh
stated that Saudi, Australian, Canadian and other diplomats
were seeking evacuation from Lebanon through Syria. End
summary.
2. (C) MFA Chief of Protocol Abdul Latif Dabbagh convoked
CDA May 11 to inform him of the SARG's official response to
the Ref B demarche CDA had made the previous day, to which
Dabbagh had responded he would personally order border posts
to facilitate the entry of Amcits. Dabbagh said when he had
raised the U.S. demarche with FM Muallem, Muallem had agreed
with the need to provide humanitarian assistance and allow
Americans to enter Syria from Lebanon. In fact, Dabbagh
reported, when Dabbagh had proposed transit visas for Amcits,
Muallem had insisted that Dabbagh allow Americans to stay if
need be. Dabbagh said he had been in touch with the Director
of Immigration to ensure the order was implemented and said
that border personnel would be provided instructions to issue
transit visas. Dabbagh did not ask for any guarantees or
information from the U.S. on those entering.
3. (C) Dabbagh said that he had spent the weekend working
with other Embassies seeking assistance for their diplomats
and citizens seeking to enter Syria from Lebanon. These
included Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Australia, Canada,
and the Philippines. Dabbagh said he had facilitated a
"plane-load of Saudi diplomats the previous night." Dabbagh
said he had not received any calls regarding Amcits to date.
4. (SBU) Embassy will continue to work to facilitate the
entry of any Amcits seeking to leave Lebanon by way of Syria.
CORBIN